The "Introduction Date" refers to the date a model was introduced via press release. The "Discontinued Date" refers to the date a model either was replaced by a subsequent system or production otherwise ended.

Geekbench 2 benchmarks are in 32-bit and 64-bit modes, respectively. These numbers reflect an average of user provided 32-bit and 64-bit results as submitted to the Geekbench website. Higher numbers are better.

You also might be interested in reviewing all 32-bit and 64-bit Geekbench 2 user submissions for Macs with the Macmini6,1 Model Identifier, which may include multiple models.

These Geekbench 3 benchmarks are in 32-bit mode and are for a single processor core and all processor cores, respectively. Both numbers reflect an average of user provided results as submitted to the Geekbench website. Higher numbers are better.

You also might be interested in reviewing all 32-bit single core and multicore Geekbench 3 user submissions for Macs with the Macmini6,1 Model Identifier, which may include multiple models.

These Geekbench 3 benchmarks are in 64-bit mode and are for a single processor core and all processor cores, respectively. Both numbers reflect an average of user provided results as submitted to the Geekbench website. Higher numbers are better.

You also might be interested in reviewing all 64-bit single core and multicore Geekbench 3 user submissions for Macs with the Macmini6,1 Model Identifier, which may include multiple models.

This model is powered by a 22 nm, 64-bit Intel Mobile Core i5 "Ivy Bridge" (I5-3210M) processor which includes two independent processor "cores" on a single silicon chip. Each core has a dedicated 256k level 2 cache, shares 3 MB of level 3 cache, and has an integrated memory controller (dual channel).

This system also supports "Turbo Boost 2.0" -- which "automatically increases the speed of the active cores" to improve performance when needed (up to 3.1 GHz for this model) -- and "Hyper Threading" -- which allows the system to recognize four total "cores" or "threads" (two real and two virtual).

Also see: How fast are the "Late 2012" Aluminum "Unibody" Mac mini models compared to the "Mid-2011" models replaced?

Turbo Boost:

3.1 GHz

Custom Speeds:

N/A

Details:

Processor Upgrade:

Soldered

FPU:

Integrated

Details:

The processor is soldered directly to the motherboard.

System Bus Speed:

5 GT/s*

Cache Bus Speed:

2.5 GHz (Built-in)

Details:

*This system has a "Direct Media Interface" (DMI) that "connects between the processor and chipset" in lieu of a traditional system bus. Intel reports that it runs at 5 GT/s.

ROM/Firmware Type:

EFI

EFI Architecture:

64-Bit

Details:

N/A

L1 Cache:

32k/32k x2

L2/L3 Cache:

256k x2, 3 MB

Details:

Each core has its own dedicated 256k level 2 cache and the system has 3 MB of shared level 3 cache.

RAM Type:

PC3-12800 DDR3

Min. RAM Speed:

1600 MHz

Details:

Supports 1600 MHz PC3-12800 DDR3 SO-DIMMs. Also see: How do you upgrade the RAM in the Aluminum "Unibody" Mac mini models? What type of RAM do they use? How much RAM do they actually support?

This model has an Intel HD Graphics 4000 graphics processor that shares memory with the system.

Also see: What type of video system is provided by the Aluminum Mac mini models? Which are integrated and which are dedicated? Can the video be upgraded?

Standard VRAM:

512 MB*

Maximum VRAM:

768 MB*

Details:

*With 4 GB of RAM installed, this model uses 512 MB of RAM for graphics. With additional RAM installed, more RAM is reserved for graphics use.

Display Support:

Dual Displays

Resolution Support:

1920x1200*

Details:

*This model simultaneously supports 1920x1200 on an HDMI display or a DVI display using the included HDMI-to-DVI adapter and 2560x1600 on a Thunderbolt or Mini DisplayPort display or even a VGA display (with an optional Mini DisplayPort-to-VGA adapter, which is compatible with the Thunderbolt port).

2nd Display Support:

Dual/Mirroring*

2nd Max. Resolution:

2560x1600*

Details:

*This model simultaneously supports 1920x1200 on an HDMI or a DVI display (using the included HDMI-to-DVI adapter) and 2560x1600 on a Thunderbolt or Mini DisplayPort display or even a VGA display (with an optional Mini DisplayPort-to-VGA adapter, which is compatible with the Thunderbolt port).

Standard Hard Drive:

500 GB (5400 RPM)

Int. HD Interface:

Serial ATA (6 Gb/s) x2

Details:

A second hard drive or SSD also can be installed, although it is not formally supported.

Also see: How do you upgrade the hard drive(s) in the Aluminum "Unibody" Mac mini models? What type of storage do they support?

*This Mac mini does not have an internal optical drive. Site sponsor PowerMax offers the external Apple USB SuperDrive for US$79. It writes DVD+R DL and DVD-R DL at 4X, DVD-R and DVD+R at 8X, DVD-RW at 6X, DVD+RW at 8X, reads DVD at 8X, writes CD-R at 24X, writes CD-RW at 16X, and reads CD at 24X.

Site sponsor Other World Computing also has a variety of compact external optical drive options that may be of interest, including some with Blu-ray capability. OWC also offers a "Data Doubler" mounting kit for this model. It makes it simple to install a second hard drive or SSD in the available drive bay of this Mac mini.

Also see: What are the full capabilities of the external SuperDrive? Can it be used with other Macs?

For more on running Windows on Intel Macs, please refer to the exhaustive Windows on Mac Q&A.

Dimensions:

1.4 x 7.7 x 7.7

Avg. Weight:

2.7 lbs. (1.22 kg)

Details:

In inches - height by width by depth, (3.6 cm, 19.7 cm, 19.7 cm)

Original Price (US):

US$599

Est. Current Retail:

US$500-US$550

Details:

Please note that on average the estimated current retail pricing of used systems is updated twice a year (please refer to the date on the bottom of the page for the date last updated).

Photo Credit: Apple Computer.

Click on the underlined category text for additional details. The most commonly needed info is "open" by default, but all info is important. The icons correspond with the icons for each port on the computer.

Supports dual simultaneous displays -- 1920x1200 on an HDMI display or a DVI display using the included HDMI-to-DVI adapter and 2560x1600 on a Thunderbolt or Mini DisplayPort display or even a VGA display (with adapter). Thunderbolt is backwards-compatible with Mini DisplayPort-equipped displays as well as adapters that are compatible with Mini DisplayPort (DVI, VGA, dual-link DVI and HDMI). It also can support other peripherals that use the Thunderbolt standard, which provides a maximum theoretical 10 Gbps of bandwidth in both directions.

ADB:

None

SCSI:

None

Details:

N/A

Serial (Standard):

None

Serial (Geoport):

None

Details:

N/A

USB:

4 (3.0)

Firewire:

1 (800)

Details:

Four USB 3.0 ports, one Firewire "800" port.

Modem:

None

Ethernet:

1 (RJ-45)

Details:

Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth 4.0 standard.

S-Video Input:

None

S-Video Output:

None

Details:

N/A

Microphone:

None

Sound In:

1

Details:

Combined "audio line in minijack (digital/analog)."

Sound Out:

1

Headphone:

1

Details:

Single combined "audio line out/headphone minijack (digital/analog)."

Security (Lock):

1

Joystick (PC):

None

Details:

N/A

Power:

1

Power Adapter:

N/A

Details:

100V-240V, 85W maximum.

Global original prices for the Mac mini "Core i5" 2.5 (Late 2012) in 24 different countries and territories follow; organized alphabetically by region.

For global original prices for Intel Macs in one particular country on a single page, please refer to EveryMac.com's Global Original Prices section.

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